Perhaps we could say that the fascination with candy, chocolate in particular, first occured in 1502 when Christopher Columbus returned home from his fourth voyage of the "Americas". Although he was not partial to this bittersweet treat, his benefactors in Spain found it fascinating and 500 years ater, this trend continues stronger than ever!
Although it would be impossible to present an exact history, for sake of clarity, this timeline illustrates the pattern at which the candy industry developed in the United States from 1800's onward.
As you will see, many retro candies ,and their founding companies, have come and gone but it is interesting to note that sixty five (65) percent of American candy bars have been around for longer than sixty (60) years.
1800s
- 1848 The first branded Amercian Chewing Gum is produced by John Curtis. It is made from tree resin and is called State of Maine Spruce Gum.
- 1854 The first packaged box of Whitman's chocolate debuts thus being the advent of boxed chocolates as we know them today
- 1868 Richard Cadbury introduces the first Valentine's Day box of chocolates.
- 1879 William H. Thompson founds Thompson Chocolate with the goal to "make only quality products."
- 1880s Wunderle Candy Company creates candy corn. In 1898, Goelitz Confectionery Company began making candy corn and has made this Halloween favorite longer than any other company. It remains one of the best selling Halloween candies of all times.
- 1890 The Piedmont Candy Company, manufacturer of Red Bird Peppermint Puffs is founded in Lexington, North Carolina
- 1891 Claus Doscher opens Doscher Brothers Confections and a few years later, after tasting wrapped taffy in the South of France, introduces French Chews.
- 1893 Milton Hershey visits the famed World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago and watches chocolate being manufactured. Although the equipment is manufactured in Germany, he purchases it at great expense and ships it to his factory in Pennsylvania
- 1893 William Wrigley, Jr. introduces Juicy Fruit Chewing Gum and Wrigley's Spearmint Chewing Gum.
- 1893 Thomas Richardson, founder of Richardson Brands, introduces Pastel Mints at a department store in Philadelphia, PA
- 1894 Milton Hershey creates the first "American" candy bar , although his famous Milk Chocolate Bar wasn't deducted for another 6 years
- 1896 Tootsie Rolls debut, introduced by Leo Hirshfield of New York who named them after his daughter's nickname, "Tootsie".
- 1899 The Jenner Manufacturing company was founded. Forty five (45) years later, the name of the company was changed to Judson Atkinson.
1900s
- 1900 A truly seminal year as Milton Hershey introduces a variation of what would someday become the Hershey's milk chocolate bar.
- 1901 The King Leo pure peppermint stick candy was developed and trademarked.
- 1901 Multicolored candy disks called “NECCO wafers” first appear named for the acronym of the New England Confectionery Company.
- 1902 New England Confectionery Company (NECCO) makes the first conversation hearts which, to this day, continue to be a Valentine’s Day tradition.
- 1904 Emil Brach starts Brach's Candy. Using $15,000 of his personal savings, he opened a candy company a few years prior but it was not a success so he tried again. The first product was Wrapped Caramels which cost a then unheard sum of $.20 per pound
- 1905 The Squirrel Brand Company of Massachusetts creates the first peanut bar known as the Squirrel Nut Zipper. This candy bar was, sadly, discontinued in the late 1980’s
- 1906 Spangler Manufacturing Company , now known as Spangler Candy, is founded. The company originally manufactured baking soda and related products and it wasn't until 1908 that they added candy ot their offerings.
- 1906 Hershey's Milk Chocolate Kisses chocolates appear in their familiar silver foil wraps and a small town in Pennsylvania called Derry Church changes it's name to Hershey to honor Milton Hershey
1910s
- 1907 Flush with the success of the Milk Chocolate Bar, Hershey introduces the beloved Hershey's Kisses! The original Hershey's Kiss were called Silvertops and were sold as individual units. Sadly, this oversized variation was discontinued in 1931
- 1908 Hershey's take the Milk Chocolate Bar one step further and introduce a version with Almonds
- 1911 Ethel and Frank Mars decide to open a candy company in Tacoma, Washington. This company soon became Mars Inc which is one of the largest, privately owned candy companies in the world!
- 1912 Life Savers, the candy named for its ring shape with the hole in the center is introduced in peppermint flavor. Twenty Two (22) years would pass before the popular five-flavor roll is introduced.
- 1912 The Whitman's Sampler box of chocolates is introduced and is the first box of chocolates to include an index allowing chocolate lovers to specifically choose the candy that they want to eat.
- 1913 Goo Goo Clusters, a Southern favorite, was the first bar to combine milk chocolate, caramel, marshmallow and peanuts.
- 1914 The Heath Bar was introduced by L.S. Heath & Sons which is located in Robinson, Illinois
- 1917 Goldenberg Candy Company, located in Philadelphia, PA creates the Goldenberg's Peanut Chews as a high protein energy ration for troops fighting in World War One although this candy was not available for retail purchase until 1921. The family remained in control of the company until the brand was sold to Just Born in 2003.
1920s
- 1920 Fannie May Candies opens its first retail candy shop in Chicago .
- 1920 Williamson Candy Co., introduced O'Henry!
- 1921 Chuckles - colorful, sugared jelly candies are first made.
- 1921 Hershey adds automation to the production process and Hershey's Kisses are now wrapped by machine and emblazoned with a small "flag" at the top.
- 1922 H.B. Reese makes the first peanut butter candy coated with Hershey's Milk Chocolate. This delicious candy is known as the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup
- 1922 Goldenberg's Peanut Chews, made in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania are introduced and take on a cult status amongst East Coast candy lovers.
- 1923 The Baby Ruth candy bar is introduced by Curtiss Candy Co. and is named for President Grover Cleveland's daughter not the famous baseball player.
- 1923 The Mounds Chocolate Bar is offered which includes coconut filling encased in rich milk chocolate. It was invented by Peter Paul Halijian although it is sold under the trade name of Peter Paul Mounds as Halijian was too hard to pronounce.
- 1923 The Milky Way Candy Bar is introduced by the Frank Mars. The candy bar was designed to taste like Malted Milk and was one of the first candies to have a nougat center.
- 1923 Hershey's Kisses become so popular that the Hershey Company registers the name for federal trademark protection.
- 1925 Hershey remains on a roll and introduces the first Milk Chocolate Bar with Peanuts. This candy is called Mr.Goodbar
- 1925 Bit-O-Honey the honey-flavored taffy bar made with bits of almond is first introduced.
- 1926 Milk Duds are introduced
- 1927 McKeesport Candy Co. was established. Although not as important as the introduction of a new candy bar, we couldn’t resist including ourselves as we are one of the oldest wholesale candy companes in the nation!
- 1928 Primrose Candy Company was established with a focus on manufacturing hard candies.
- 1928 Heath Bars appear, offering chocolate covered toffee. This candy was originally offered for "home delivery" as was sold by Dairy Salesmen
- 1928 An important year for any candy lover as the beloved Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups is introduced. It remains one of the best selling candy bars of all times!
1930s
- 1930 M&M Mars introduces the Snickers Bar which, to date,remains the best selling candy bar of all time. It was named after one of the family’s beloved horses…
- 1931 Tootsie Roll Pops are introduced and are consider by some to be the first “novelty candy” as they combined two candies in one.
- 1931 A fortunate accident involving Marshmallow at the Sifer’s Candy Company lead to the creation of the Valomilk Candy Bar which were originally known as Valomilk Dips.
- 1932 M&M Mars introduces the MARS Candy Bar which was renamed Snickers Almond Crunch in the late 1990’s. The formula remains the same with the only difference being the name!
- 1932 - Charles Howard creates Violet Mints in an industrial loft in New York. The product was sold on street corners and the company changed it's name to C.Howards Company.
- 1932 Ferrara Pan Candy Company, located in Chicago , introduces Red Hot Cinnamon candy known as Red Hots.
- 1932 M&M Mars debuts the 3 Musketeers Bar, made as a three-flavor bar featuring chocolate, vanilla and strawberry nougat. This flavor combination would last for thirteen (13) years.
- 1936 In a break from tradition, William Luden, one of the creators of Cough Drops, introduces the 5th Avenue Candy Bar.
- 1936 Marpo offers the first non meltable ice cream cone called Marpo "Yum Yum" Marshmallow Cones.
- 1938 Hershey offers a candy bar that combines Milk Chocolate with Rice Krispies called the Krackel Bar
- 1939 Hershey's Miniatures chocolate bars debut.
- 1939 Overland Candy Company introduces a chocolate covered malt ball called Giants
- 1939 Blommer Chocolate Company opens a huge factory in Chicago, Illinois. This mammoth operation became the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America
1940s
- 1941 Bruce Murrie, the President of Hershey Chocolates, joins forces with Forrest Mars, and open a company called M&M Ltd.
- 1941 "M&M's" Plain Chocolate Candies are introduced in response to depressed chocolate sales in summer. Fifty-nine years later, M&M Mars shortened the name to M&M’s.
- 1940 Hershey Chocolates produces a special chocolate bar called the D Bar which is highly caloric and has a high melting point. This was designed as a survival ration for soldiers and was wrapped in sealed wax paper to ensure that it was resistant to poisonous gas. It's flavor was bittersweet which was to prevent it from being consumed too quickly.
- 1942-1945 Working hard to maintain high wartime morale, female employees at Whitman’s Candy Company secretly slipped notes to soldiers in boxes of Whitman’s Chocolate Samplers destined for military shipment. The notes resulted in several long-term friendships and even a few marriages.
- 1945 M&M Mars decides to change the formula in the 3 Musketeers Bar to All Chocolate
- 1947 Peter Paul introduces the Mounds Bar
- 1947 Frankford Candy & Chocolate Company is founded in Philadelphia, PA
- 1949 Junior Mints were introduced.
- 1949 Smarties candy roll wafers are introduced. They are often referred to as “candy pills”.
- 1949 El Bubble Bubble Gum Cigars are the first five-cent bubble gum.
- 1949 Leaf Confectionery changes the name of a popular chocolate covered malted milk candy from Giants to Whoppers.
1950s
- 1950 The Annabelle Candy Company is founded by Sam Altshuler. The company is named for his daughter and their first product was the Rocky Road Candy Bar
- 1954 Marshmallow Peeps are introduced by Just Born, Inc. in the shape of Easter chicks.
- 1950 Bobs Candy Canes, sold under the Cris Cringle brand, are introduced.
- 1958 Candy Necklaces, a retro candy classic, are introduced.
1960s
- 1960 In an effort to create a healthy candy product, M&M Mars Starburst Fruit Chews are introduced and later fortified with Vitamin C.
- 1960 Amurol confections introduce the first sugar free bubble gum called Blammo.
- 1960 Ferrara Pan Candy Company introduces Lemonheads and later in the year, Apple Heads,Grape Heads and Orange Heads.
- 1962 Hershey Chocolates offers Hershey's Kisses in colored wrappers
- 1963 Sweetarts are introduced.
- 1963 An important merger occurs when H.B. Reese Company is acquired by Hershey Chocolate Company for the princely sum of $23 million dollars
- 1966 The Belgian Choclatier Godiva is acquired by the Campbell Soup Company
- 1968 Zotz are released and were one of the first "sour fizzy" candies.
1970s
- 1970 M&M Mars introduces the Snickers Munch Bar
- 1970 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups become so popular that Hershey Food Corporation has to double the size of it's production in order to meet worldwide demand
- 1973 Chocolate has become so popular that Hershey Foods Corporation opens the first candy related theme park known as Hershey's Chocolate World
- 1973 Hershey's Foods becomes the first candy company to offer ingredients and nutritional information on their wrapper
- 1976 Herman Goelitz Company introduces the first individually flavored Jelly Bean known as Jelly Bellies.
- 1976 Hershey Foods decides to tweak the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup and offers a version with peanuts called Reese's Crunchy.
- 1977 Hershey Foods introduces a new variation of the "Great American Chocolate Bar" called Golden Almond.
- 1978 Fueled by the overwhelming success of Reese Peanut Butter Cups, Hershey’s introduces Reese's Pieces.
- 1979 M&M Mars introduces the Twix Caramel Cookie Candy Bar.
1980s
- 1980 Herman Goelitz Company introduces the first American-made gummi bears and gummi worms. Traditionally, these candies were imported from Europe .
- 1981 Fueled by their success in Europe, M&M Mars introduces Skittle Bite Size Candies.
- 1983 Albanese Candy is founded with the aim of producing the World's Best Gummi Products
- 1988 Hershey Chocolate Company is renamed Hershey Chocolate USA
- 1989 Hershey Chocolate USA introduces the Symphony Bar which is a combination of almonds, toffee and milk chocolate
1990s
- 1990 Hershey sends 144,000 heat resistant candy bars to soldiers serving in the first Gulf War. The formula is identical to that which was offered to soldiers in World War Two.
- 1991 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups continue to be a worldwide favorite and, in response, the recipe is adjusted adding three times the amount of peanuts.
- 1992 M&M Mars introduces DOVE Dark Chocolate Bar and DOVE Milk Chocolate Bars
- 1993 Hershey Chocolate introduces miniature Hershey's kisses as well as White Chocolate Kisses called Hugs
- 1994 M&M Mars introduces Starburst Jelly Beans.
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